While the economic situation in Ontario may be improving, low and modest income households across the province still struggle to access the most crucial and basic aspect of economic and personal success – a safe and affordable home.
The 2010 edition of Where’s Home? authored by the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada Ontario Region (CHF Canada’s Ontario Region), analyzes 22 separate housing markets across Ontario and highlights the urgent need for more affordable rental housing. Read the rest of this entry »
The Ottawa Branch of the Housing Network of Ontario and six local housing providers throughout the city are offering an opportunity for all Ottawa area MPPs to participate in a 6-Stop Affordable Housing Tour in May and June.
The 6-Stop Affordable Housing Tour will showcase Ottawa’s existing affordable housing for families, youth, and single adults in different parts of the city. The media are invited to come out to each stop on the tour to hear and see first hand what is working well in Ottawa. Read the rest of this entry »
Application deadline: February 16
Program dates: March 6 to June 5
Get more infomation and apply today
School4Civics is a program aimed at training and mentoring promising leaders from diverse communities to organize political campaigns or run for office. Read the rest of this entry »
The Housing Network of Ontario released a powerful and comprehensive report on the community consultations for a Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy in Ontario. This report consolidates recommendations made by many hundreds of Ontarians who participated in almost 40 community meetings and consultations focussed on developing an affordable housing strategy, held from June to November 2009. Read the rest of this entry »
The Toronto Community Foundation released its Vital Signs 2009 report. It is a comprehensive release that basically says that Toronto is a very desirable city to live in if you can afford it.
Some key issues that are highlighted in the report include:
Toronto is rated “seriously unaffordable”, ranking 190th internationally, and 29th in Canada, with median housing prices 4.8 times median household incomes.
And we are in a country that ranks last among 14 western nations in spending on early learning, childcare, and kindergarten programs. Read the rest of this entry »
The Housing Opportunites Toronto 10 year plan is an important first step in developing long-term solutions to deal with issues of housing and homelessness. All levels of government need to create national, provincial and local housing strategies. HOT is a valuable attempt by government to address this pressing need for comprehensive, multi-sectoral solutions. Read the rest of this entry »
The nine billion dollars in transit funding recently announced by the province of Ontario and city of Toronto is definitely good news. An effective public transit system is a vitally important social and economic resource allowing people to shop, get to work, and lead active social lives. Read the rest of this entry »
Fighting poverty is the best medicine money can buy according to the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa). They partnering with the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction in an Ontario-wide campaign to urge the Ontario government Read the rest of this entry »
On September 17, the government announced that were going to continue funding the Homelessness Partnering Initiative, the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program and the Affordable Housing Initiative. The total commitment is for 1.9 billion dollars over the next five years.
This sounds impressive. However, 350 million dollars per year spread across the entire country will barely maintain the status quo. Read the rest of this entry »